5 Ways to Bring Fun Back to Church

Some churches need to be reminded that Jesus is no longer in the grave. Too often churches resemble funeral services, as if we’re mourning the passing of the dearly departed. Instead church services should be a joyous celebration, because Jesus rose from the dead and he’s coming back soon! Church services are supposed to be enjoyed, not endured. Proverbs 17:22 says, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” If you’re wanting to infuse a little more fun into your church service, here are five places to start:

1). Don’t take yourselves too seriously. Being reverent doesn’t mean stifling any spark of joy within a service. God used a donkey (Numbers 22) and a worm (Jonah 4) to accomplish his will. Since God spoke through an ass, you shouldn’t take yourself too seriously.

2). Use humor. It’s okay to laugh at church. You can be funny without being crude. Humor does more than simply add a little levity: it breaks down emotional barriers that people put up, allowing you to reach them at a deeper level. Humor also creates a communal experience that deepens bonds with others. Use humor strategically to lighten the crushing load that many people walk into the service with.

3). Dress casually. You can be respectful while dressing casually. I grew up always hearing that you had to dress your best going to church because it shows respect to God. I understand that and can see the logic, but dressing up too much has a horrible side effect: inauthenticity. When people dress up in uncomfortable clothes that they normally don’t wear, it inhibits authenticity. Dressing casually allows people’s true personalities to come out, making laughter more natural.

4). Make sure your stage leaders project the experience you’re trying to create. Your stage personalities don’t need to be fake, but they need to be intentional to model the experience you’re trying to create. If you’re singing a song about the joy of the Lord but your praise team or choir looks like they ate a bad burrito the night before, it creates a dissonance in your service and confuses the congregation about what experience you’re trying to create.

5). Create an environment where people talk to each other before and after the services. Joy doesn’t just come through humor, it comes through human connections. If your church service feels like a library (where you’re not supposed to talk above a whisper) before and after the service, you’re discouraging human interaction (which decreases the fun). The atmosphere you want to go for is a family reunion, where people are talking, laughing, and most importantly, connecting. Through background music, lighting, and modeling it through volunteers or staff, create an environment where people actually talk and connect with each other.

QUESTION: What other ways can you bring a little more fun back into church?